How to use Terapeak product research on eBay to decide what to list
In short
To use Terapeak product research, open the Research tab in eBay Seller Hub, search a product the way a buyer would, pick a time period and marketplace, then filter by condition and format. Read total sold, average sold price, sell-through and sellers, and compare candidates on the same settings before you list.
Key takeaways
- Terapeak Product Research is eBay's own research tool, found under the Research tab in Seller Hub.
- Search as a buyer would, then fix the marketplace, period, condition and format for every comparison.
- Average sold price, total sold, total sellers and sell-through are the core figures to record.
- Narrow searches to one product version, or the averages blend different items.
- Terapeak shows past demand; it cannot tell you whether a sourcing method or brand is safe to list.
What is Terapeak and where do you find it?
If you are wondering how to use Terapeak, start with where it lives: Terapeak Product Research is eBay's own research tool, built into Seller Hub under the Research tab. It shows what has actually sold on eBay for a search term over a period you choose, including how many units sold, at what prices, how many listings were live and which sellers made the sales. Because it uses eBay's own sales data, it answers the question that matters most before you list: are buyers paying for this, and at what price?
Terapeak was once a separate paid service. eBay now offers Product Research inside Seller Hub, and the options you see can depend on your account and any shop subscription. If you cannot see the Research tab, check that you are signed in to Seller Hub on the eBay site you sell on.
How do you run your first Terapeak search?
- Open Seller Hub, then Research. Choose Product Research.
- Type the product as a buyer would. "Cordless leaf blower" is better than "garden power tool". Use the product type and, if relevant, the brand or model.
- Choose the marketplace. Pick the eBay site you sell on, so you see the buyers you will reach.
- Choose the time period. A longer window smooths out spikes; a recent one shows current demand. Look at both for anything seasonal.
- Apply filters. Set condition (new or used), format (fixed price or auction), category and, if useful, price range and item location.
- Read the summary figures before scrolling into individual listings.
If the first search returns too few results, the wording is probably too narrow or unusual. Try the shorter phrase buyers use, then add terms back one at a time. If it returns a jumble of different items, add the model or a key feature, or pick a category filter. A good research search is one where most of the sold listings shown are the same item you plan to sell.
Run the same settings for every product you compare. Changing the period or filters between searches makes the numbers meaningless side by side.
Which Terapeak figures matter and what do they mean?
| Figure | What it tells you | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Average sold price | What buyers actually paid on average | Base your price and profit sums on this, not on asking prices |
| Sold price range | The spread from cheapest to dearest sale | A wide range can mean different versions are being mixed together |
| Average postage | What buyers paid for postage | Shows whether free postage is the norm |
| Total sold | Units sold in the period | Shows the size of the market |
| Total sellers | How many sellers made sales | Many sellers sharing sales means stronger competition |
| Sell-through | Sales compared with listings in the period | Higher means demand is keeping up with supply |
| Total sales value | Revenue across the market | Rough size of the opportunity in money |
Below the summary, the tool lists individual sold listings. These are the most useful part. Open several to see their titles, photos, item specifics, prices and handling times. They show you what a winning listing in this niche looks like.
How do you avoid misleading Terapeak results?
The figures are only as good as the search behind them. Common traps:
- Mixed products. A search for "air fryer" includes large and small models, accessories and spare baskets. Narrow it down with model terms and a category filter, or the average price is a blend of different items.
- New and used together. If you sell new, filter to new only.
- Auctions skewing price. Auction prices can be lower or higher than fixed price for the same item. Filter by format to match how you sell.
- One big seller. If a single seller accounts for most of the sales, the market may be harder to enter than the totals suggest. Check the sellers listed.
- Short-lived spikes. A product that went viral for two weeks can look strong over a short period and fade quickly afterwards.
Worked example: turning Terapeak data into a decision
Example (hypothetical figures): suppose you compare two pet products on eBay UK, new, fixed price, over the same period.
| Self-cleaning slicker brush | Orthopaedic dog bed, medium | |
|---|---|---|
| Average sold price | £9.80 | £34.50 |
| Total sold | 800 | 260 |
| Total sellers | 140 | 35 |
| Sell-through | 45% | 55% |
| Your supplier cost incl. delivery | £5.20 | £21.00 |
The brush sells more units, but each sale is small, and 140 sellers share the market. After eBay fees at a hypothetical 13% plus 30p (an illustration rate, not eBay's actual figure), the brush at £9.80 leaves about £3.03 before ads and returns. The bed at £34.50 leaves about £8.71. Fewer sellers and a higher profit per sale make the bed the stronger first test, as long as your supplier can deliver bulky items on time. The brush might still earn a place later, once you can measure your own conversion.
The arithmetic: £9.80 minus £1.57 in hypothetical fees minus £5.20 is £3.03; £34.50 minus £4.79 in hypothetical fees minus £21.00 is £8.71. Check real fees on eBay's selling fees page.
How can Terapeak help you write better listings?
Product research is not only for choosing products. The sold listings it shows are a free lesson in what buyers respond to.
Titles
Note the words that appear in most of the best-selling titles. They reflect how buyers search. Use them in your own words; do not copy titles outright. Our guide on how to write eBay titles covers the word order.
Item specifics
Look at which item specifics the top sellers fill in. If they all list material, size and compatibility, so should you.
Price and postage
Check where the most sales cluster in the price range, and whether those listings offer free postage. Price close to the cluster rather than at the cheapest extreme, unless your costs let you lead on price.
Delivery promises
Look at handling times on the best sellers. If they dispatch the same or next working day and your supplier takes several days, expect a harder fight for the same buyers.
Repricing listings you already have
Product research is just as useful for listings that are already live. If a listing has views but few sales, search its exact product with your usual settings and compare your total price with the average sold price and the cluster of recent sales. A listing priced well above where sales happen will struggle however good the photos are. A listing priced far below may be leaving profit on the table.
Do this check for your top sellers too. Their sold price can drift as competitors enter or leave, and a small rise that the market accepts adds up quickly on items that sell every day.
Seasonal checks
For anything with a season, such as heaters, paddling pools, costumes or gift sets, compare the same months across different years rather than the last few weeks alone. The pattern tells you when demand starts to build, which is when your listing should already be live, accurate and priced.
What can Terapeak not tell you?
- Whether you can source the item legitimately. eBay allows dropshipping from a wholesale supplier, but listing an item and then buying it from another retailer or marketplace that ships directly to your buyer is not allowed, and you stay responsible for delivery and buyer satisfaction. Read eBay's drop shipping policy before choosing suppliers.
- Whether a brand will object. Rights owners can report listings through the VeRO programme. Research the brand before you list.
- Your own conversion. Market sell-through is not your sell-through. You only learn that by listing and measuring.
- Future demand. It is a record of the past, so combine it with what you know about seasons and trends.
If you research products from AliExpress for eBay UK, Dropizon Global is a separate tool built for that route, with 30-day sales, supplier matching, VeRO checks and a profit calculator; see Dropizon Global.
A Terapeak routine you can run each week
- Write down ten product ideas from your niche.
- Search each with the same marketplace, period, condition and format settings.
- Record average sold price, total sold, total sellers and sell-through in a spreadsheet.
- Add your supplier cost and work out profit at the average sold price after fees.
- Shortlist the three with the best mix of profit, volume and manageable competition.
- Study the top sold listings for each and build your listings to a higher standard.
- After a month, compare your own results with what Terapeak suggested and adjust.
Frequently asked questions
Is Terapeak free to use?
eBay offers Product Research inside Seller Hub. Some extra research features may depend on your account or shop subscription. Check the Research tab in your own Seller Hub to see what is available to you.
Can I use Terapeak for eBay US if I sell on eBay UK?
Product Research lets you choose a marketplace, so you can look at other eBay sites as well as your own. Remember that buyers, prices and competition differ between sites. Only sell on a site if you can meet its delivery promises.
How often should I check Terapeak for a product I already sell?
A monthly check is enough for most products. Look for changes in average sold price and number of sellers. A sudden rise in sellers is often an early warning that prices will fall.
Is Terapeak the same as the sold filter on eBay search?
Both show sold listings, but Product Research adds summary figures such as average price, sell-through and seller counts. It also lets you pick longer periods and more filters. The sold filter on the search page is quicker for a fast check.
